Repairing Lowestoft Post Office

The former Post Office building in Lowestoft, East Suffolk, is located within the London Road, Lowestoft High Street Heritage Action Zone and is a flagship project within the Town Investment Plan. Having lain empty, the Post Office was purchased by the former Waveney District Council in 2018 for redevelopment and to boost regeneration in the town centre. In March 2021, a mixed-use commercial and residential development was given approval. However, an exciting opportunity has arisen, and a new scheme has now been approved by East Suffolk Council’s cabinet to redevelop the Post Office into a visual arts space maintaining the heritage of these historically significant buildings in the heart of Lowestoft. The art space will be run by Messums, who are recognised for revitalising old buildings and embedding them within communities through artistic enterprise, and sculptor Laurence Edwards who began his art education in Lowestoft and subsequently developed an international reputation for large scale public works from his base in East Suffolk. The hub, known as Messums East, will provide a working studio for Laurence Edwards, in addition to spaces for a revolving residency of international, national and regional artists, exhibition spaces and screening room, and a café/restaurant. Laurence will also work to create a large-scale bronze landmark sculpture for Lowestoft, casting it at his foundry in East Suffolk. He will work extensively with the local community from the new studio at the Post Office to see this realised. Funded by Historic England and the Towns Fund, works have now been completed on the façade of the Grade II listed building, including repairs to the stonework, roof, and sash windows and reconfiguring the front entrance to its original position. Planning and listed building consent for the conversion of the building to a gallery will be submitted in the coming weeks. Work on the sculptural project is expected to begin when the building and studios open to the public. The Lowestoft Heritage Action Zones are heritage-led regeneration schemes funded by Historic England and East Suffolk Council, delivered in partnership with the East Suffolk Building Preservation Trust, Lowestoft Town Council, and Lowestoft Vision.